Sejong-si, Ultrafine Dust Concentration 'Lowest Since Observation Began'

Trends in Fine Dust Concentration Changes in Sejong City from 2016 to 2021. Provided by Sejong City

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Last year, the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) in the Sejong area recorded the lowest level since observations began.

According to Sejong City on the 17th, the fine particulate matter concentration in the area last year was 18㎍/㎥, which is a 21.7% decrease from 23㎍/㎥ in 2016, the year when observations first started.

This figure is also 30.8% lower compared to 26㎍/㎥ in 2019, when the fine particulate matter concentration was at its highest.

Sejong had chronically high fine particulate matter concentrations due to the construction of the new city. The increase in population and traffic volume during urban development, along with sporadic building construction projects throughout the city, adversely affected the local air quality.

In fact, in 2019, the fine particulate matter concentration in the region was 13.0% higher than the national average.

However, considering these factors, it is analyzed that the air quality in the area has gradually improved due to the city's fine dust reduction policies and other effects.

Previously, the city strengthened sector-specific management and support for major emission sources to reduce fine dust emissions within the area.

In the industrial sector, the city implemented total air pollutant emission caps and signed voluntary reduction agreements with 24 large air emission business sites, actively enforcing reductions and regularly conducting inspections and guidance on pollution control facilities.

In the transportation sector, emission reduction projects such as early retirement of old diesel vehicles were promoted, reducing the number of grade 5 old vehicles from 8,050 in 2020 to 5,154 last year. Additionally, the expansion of charging infrastructure for electric and hydrogen vehicles led to the cumulative distribution of 1,595 vehicles by last year, which are considered major policies for reducing fine dust in the area.

In the residential sector, fine dust reduction devices were installed at large construction sites near residential areas, and during periods of high fine dust concentration, work hours were shortened and road sprinkling was intensified.

Moreover, the city operated an illegal emission monitoring team from October to May, the high fine dust period, focusing on continuous monitoring of fugitive dust and illegal burning.

As a result, the fine particulate matter concentration in Sejong was 5.3% higher than the national average in 2020, which was 7.7 percentage points lower than in 2019, and last year it decreased to the same level as the national average, showing annual improvements in air quality, according to the city.

Most notably, the number of days with a fine dust grade of ‘Good (15㎍/㎥ or less)’ that citizens can feel increased to 206 days last year, up by 135 days from 71 days in 2016.

On the other hand, the number of ‘Bad (36㎍/㎥ or more)’ days decreased by 35%, from 65 days in 2016 to 42 days last year, indicating a clear improvement in local air quality, the city analyzed.

Yang Wan-sik, Director of the Environmental Greenery Bureau of the city, stated, “Visible results such as gradual improvement in fine dust concentration are appearing thanks to citizens’ interest and active cooperation,” and added, “We will continue to implement fine dust reduction measures more thoroughly to do our best to protect citizens’ health.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.